Courtesy of Findlay Athletics Media Relations
Kasey Petty, a recent University of Findlay graduate, qualified for the 2016 U.S. Women's Open after winning a qualifying tournament at the Westwood Country Club on May 24 in St. Louis, Mo.
Petty, who has been on a torrid streak of playing championship level golf, fired a 3-over par score of 147 (74, 73) to win the tournament by one stroke and punch her ticket to a major tournament. She had two birdies in the opening 18 holes and then came back with three more during the second 18 holes to win the event.
Petty is coming off of a runner-up finish at the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship (May 18-21). She earned her runner-up placing by shooting a 5-under par score of 283 (73, 71, 69, 70), which established a new 72-hole school record at Findlay.
The 2016 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Golfer of the Year, Petty also took runner-up honors at the NCAA Division II East Regional (May 2-4) with a 1-under par score of 215 (67, 74, 74). Her opening round, 5-under par score of 67 set a new 18-hole school record as well.
Petty was also the runner-up at the 2016 GLIAC Championship (April 22-24). She led after 54-holes, but would fall in sudden death. She finished the conference championship with a 1-under par score of 215 (70, 74, 71).
The Groveport, Ohio native averaged 73.97 strokes per round during the 2016 campaign, the fourth-best total among all NCAA Division II women's golfers. She tied for seventh in the nation with a total of 74 birdies and ranked fourth nationally with a 4.93 scoring average on par five holes.
A first team all-region pick in 2015 and 2016, Petty was also named first team all-conference during those seasons. She was an honorable mention all-league pick in 2014 and wrapped her career with four career wins. She is also the only women's golfer in program history to secure two top-10 finishes at the NCAA Division II National Championship. She placed ninth in 2015 and was second in 2016.
The 2016 U.S. Women's Open will be held on July 7-10 at the CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif.
